Kunti became a mother first. As a sister-in-law, Gandhari felt insecured about the throne now. The agony and trauma experienced by Pandu earlier, apprehended Gandhari’s mind now. The thoughts about the chief chair of Hastinapur bloated everyone’s mind.

Gandhari conceived well before Kunti. But she did not give birth. Hapless Gandhari did not find a way. She had been pregnant for 2 years already. With conscious volition, she decided to give birth forcefully. She ordered her maids to strike her belly with an iron bar. No one had the temerity to question her. Though the hesitated, they tended to hit her. There comes the fate.

She did not give birth to a boy or a girl. It was a sphere of flesh with pulse for life. As per Sage Vyasa’s suggestion, the piece was broken into 100 pieces and stored inside different pots with Ghee inside. Poor Gandhari wanted a girl baby as well. So it was broken into 101 pieces and incubated.

When I heard that Kunti had given birth to her first son, as radiant as the sun, I struck my belly in grief. Earlier, you granted me the boon that I would have a hundred sons. But instead of those 100 sons, this mass of flesh has been born to me.

சூரியனைப் போல பிரகாசமான தன் முதல் மகனை குந்தி பெற்றெடுத்தாள் என்று நான் கேள்விப்பட்டபோது ​​துக்கத்தில் என் வயிற்றில் அடித்தேன். இதற்கு முன், எனக்கு நூறு மகன்கள் பிறக்கும் வரம் தந்தீர்கள். ஆனால் அந்த 100 மகன்களுக்குப் பதிலாக இந்த சதை நிறை எனக்கு பிறந்துள்ளது.

Gandhari to Vyasa, Adi Parva, , The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Sage Vyasa assured her the flesh pieces would be changed to children in an year. After an year, first pot was broken. There comes a boy. Gandhari named him as Duryodhana. Over the period rest of the incubators are broken too. The story is like eggs and chicken, isn’t it? Finally there is a girl baby. She named her as Dusshala.

O Subala’s daughter! It will be as I have said and not otherwise. I have never uttered a falsehood in jest. Why should I do it when I am in earnest? Quickly bring a hundred pots and fill them up with ghee. Let cool water be sprinkled on this mass of flesh.

ஓ சுபலரின் மகளே! நான் சொன்னபடியே இருக்கும், மற்றபடி இருக்காது. நான் ஒருபோதும் (பிறரின்) மகிழ்ச்சிக்காகப் பொய் சொன்னதில்லை. நான் ஆர்வமாக இருக்கும்போது அதை ஏன் செய்ய வேண்டும்? சீக்கிரம் நூறு பானைகளைக் கொண்டு வந்து நெய் நிரப்பு. இந்த சதையின் மீது குளிர்ந்த நீர் தெளிக்கப்படட்டும்.

Vyasa to Gandhari, Adi Parva, , The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

In addition, Dhritarashtra had a son – Yuyutsu – with a Vaishya maid Sughada. He was grown along with Gandhari’s children as well.

Here is the birth of Kaurava-s.

References / Gratitude:

• The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
• The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy

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